Nail driver



Aug. 27, 1929. w. F. BlLZ 1,726,012

NAIL DRIVER Filed June 25, 1927 3 Sheets-Sheet 1 Attornqy w. F. BILZ NAIL DRIVER Aug. 27, 1929.

Filed June 25, 1927 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 Inventor Attornqy Aug. 27, 1 929. V w, BILZ 1,726,012

NAIL DRIVER Filed June 25, 1927 3 Sheets-Shut 5 Azftornqy Patented Aug. 27, 1929.

PATENT OFFICE.

WILLIAM FREDRIGK BILZ, F MCKEESPORT, PENNSYLVANIA.

NAIL DRIVER.

Application filed June 25,

My invention relates to nail drivers and has for its principal object to provide means for holding and driving the nail into the work in inaccesible positions where it is found impossible to use a hammer for this purpose. In order to provide a simple and practical apparatus for carrying out this purpose I provide a pair of pivotally mounted nail gripping jaws at one end of an elongated casing and arrange a driving plunger for contact with the head of the nail and an operating hammer extending outwardly from the opposite end of the casing and arranged to strike upon the plunger whereby to force the nail into the work.

Another object of the invention is to provide means for holding the nail in driving position and which is adapted to accommodate finishing nails having a relatively small head as well as fiat headed nails.

A further object of the invention is to provide a locking device for the hammer to prevent the withdrawal of the same from the casing while the device is being used for work overhead.

A. still further object is to provide means for counter-sinking the head of the nail within the work.

Other objects and advantages reside in the special construction, combination and arrangement of the various elements forming the invention as more fully hereinafter claimed and described, reference being had to the accompanying drawings forming part hereof, wherein:

Figure 1 is a longitudinal sectional view of the assembled device,

Figure 2 is a similar enlarged View of the nail gripping jaws showing contact of the nail driving plunger with the head of the nail,

Figure 3 is a transverse sectional view taken along a line 3-3 of Figure 1,

Figure 4: is a longitudinal sectional view of the plunger head,

Figure 5 is a transverse sectional view taken along a line 5-5 of Figure 1,

Figure 6 is a bottom plan view,

Figure 7 is a transverse sectional View 50 taken substantially along the line 77 of Figure 1,

Figure 8 is an elevational view of the nail gripping end, and

1927. Serial 110 201367.

Figure 9 is a transverse sectional view taken along a line 99 of Figure 8,

Figure 10 is a detailed perspective view of one of the nail gripping jaws.

Referring now to the drawing I have shown my invention comprising a sectional casing having an upper section 5 and lower section 6 of an elongated tubular formation and threadedly connected in extended relation with each other. Upon the outer end of the lower section is threadedly engaged a jaw socket 7, open at its lower end and having a pair of nail gripping jaws 8 pivotally mounted within the same upon pins 9. At opposite sides of the lower portion of the socket member 7 is formed a pair of off-set portions 10 having a slot 11 at the lower end thereof and forming a guide for the lower end of the jaw 8, permitting the jaw to swing laterally with respect to the lower end of the socket member. At the upper end of the jaw I provide a recess 12 within which is inserted one end of a coil spring 13, the opposite end of the spring being compressed against a sleeve 14; longitudinally arranged between each of the jaw members. Each of thejaws being provided with one of the springs 13 forcing the up per end of the jaw outwardly, the lower ends of the jaws are thereby, forced into engagement with each other. Shoulders 15 are formed near the lower end of each of the jaws upon which the lower end of the sleeve 14: is adapted to rest. The abutting lower faces of each of the jaws is provided with a vertically formed groove 16 within which a nail shank 17 is arranged to be fitted in gripping relation. The head of the nail 18 extends upwardly within the sleeve 14% and is adapted to be engaged by the lower end of a plunger 19, the plunger being of smaller diameter than the sleeve 14 whereby the same is permitted to freely move within the sleeve.

The plunger is constructed of a shell 19 having a longitudinally extending bore within which is slidably fitted a solid rod 20, the lower end of the rod 20 being arranged substantially horizontally with the lower end of the shell 19, The upper end of the shell 19 is formed into a socket member 21 having a centrally disposed recess 22 opening upwardly therefrom and having its upper edge provided with an annular flange 23. Arranged above the socket member 21 is a plunger head 24 mounted in superimposed relation therewith and normally spaced therefrom by a spring 25, having its lower end seated within the recess 22 and its upper end seated within a similar recess 26 formed in thelower portion of the head 24. The spring 25 is mounted on the rod 20, the upper end of which extends upwardly within the head 24 in a relatively tight fit therewith. The head 24 and socket member 21 are secured to each other by a collar 27 having an inturned flange 28 engaging the underside of the flange 23 of the socket and'an inwardly formed rib 29' adapted to be seated within an annular groove formed within the outer wall of the head 24. It will thus be seen'that the socket member 21 and head 24 are secured against separation from each (aher but at the same time are permitted to be yieldably moved against each other, the spring 25 normally serving to retain the parts in spaced relation. e

v Arranged within the upper section of the casing 5 is a hammer rod 30 having its lower end provided with a hammer head 31 secured thereon by a pin 32 and adapted to engage the head 24 of the'plunger. The upper end of thehammer rod 30 extends outwardly from the casing and is provided with a handle 33 screw, threaded on the end of the rod. An adjusting nut 34 is arranged on the upper end of the hammer rod adapted to regulate the length of the stroke of the rod whereby to control the depth for driving the nail. The nut is threadedly mounted on the rod '80 and is'provided with a recess 35 within which is disposed a coil spring 36 abutting the underside of the handle 33. A cap 37 is fitted within the upper end of the section 5, of the casing having an opening therein'forming a guide for the hammer rod 30 and provided-with a collar 38 rotatably arranged within a recess in the cap. The cap is provided with a laterally extending recess 39 within which is carried a ball 40,

' one side of the ball extending slightly beyond the edge of the cap and adapted to ride within a relatively small groove 41 formed within the inner face of the collar 38. The groove 41 extends only partly around the collar'so that the collar for its greater distance forms a relatively tight fit with the cap. By turning the collar whereby to move the ball'out of the groove the same is forced against the plunger rod 30 thus serving to bind the same against free movement thereof. A locking ball 42 is arranged diametrically opposite from the ball 40 and likewise isseated withina recess formed in the edge of the cap and normally forced outwardly by-the spring 48 seated in the to fit within a recess formed in the inner periphery of the collar and arranged in a position to lock the collar when the same is moved to bind the ball 40 against the hammer rod 30.

In the operation of the device after placing a nail between the jaws 8 with its sharpened end slightly protruding therefrom, the same may then be placed in position for driving and upon striking a blow by means of the handle 33 and hammer rod 30 upon the plunger head 24 the head of the nail will thereby receive the impact from the shell 19 or rod 20 formed on the plunger. As the head of the nail reaches the lower end of the jaws upon engagement therewith the jaws will open sulficiently to permit the head to pass therebetween.

The device is adapted for driving either finishing nails or fiat headed nails and in Figure 2 of the drawing I have shown the head of a finishing nail indicated at 44 which it will be seen, is adapted to be engaged by the rod 20 carried on the plunger, whereas the flat head 18 of the nail 17 is engaged by the lower end of the shell 19.

When driving a nail overhead the hammer rod 30 may be held inwardly within the easing by turning the collar 38 so as to force the ball 40 in binding position against the rod.

It is obvious that the invention is susceptible to various changes and modifications without departing from the spirit thereof or the scope of the appended claims and I accordingly claim all such forms of the device to which I am entitled.

I claim:

1. In a nail driver, a casing having a pair of pivotally mounted jaws arranged at one end thereof, means provided on the jaws for gripping a nail, a plunger arranged within the casing having one end engageable with the head of a nail, a head for the plunger, resilient connecting means between the head and the plunger, a hammer rod slidably arranged within the casing engageable with the head, and an operating handle arranged on the opposite end of the hammer rod.

2. In a nail driver, a sectional tubular casing having a jaw socket arranged at its lower end, a plurality of nail gripping jaws pivotally mounted within the socket, nail gripping means at the lower ends of the jaws, a plunger slidably arranged within the casing and comprising a hollow shell having its lower end engageable with the head of the nail, a rod slidably arranged within the shell, a head attached to the upper end of the rod, a collar connecting the head and the shell, means yieldably retaining the head and the shell in spaced relation, a hammer rod slidably arranged within the upper end of the casing having its lower end engageable with the head, locking means for the rod, an operating handle upon the outer end of the rod, and depth control means for the nail interposed between the outer end of the casing and said operating handle.

3. In a nail driver, a sectional tubular casing having a jaw socket arranged at its lower end, a plurality of nail gripping 'jaws pivotally mounted Within the socket, nail gripping means formed at the lower ends of the jaws, a plunger slidably arranged within the casing, comprising a pair of nail head engaging members including a shell and a rod slidably arranged therewithin, a plunger head arranged at the upper end of the rod, a spring disposed between the head and the shell yieldably retaining the same in spaced relation, a collar engaging the head and the shell, a hammer rod slidably arranged within the upper end of the casing having its lower end engageable with the head, a cap at the upper end of the casing, a ball retained therein, means for moving the ball in binding position against the hammer rod, a handle arranged on the outer end of the rod, and depth regulating means for the head of the nail comprising a collar adjustably mounted on the rod between the handle and the casing.

In testimony whereof I affix my signature.

WILLIAM FREDRICK BILZ. 

